So here we are. Fourth match of the campaign. To recap: a draw that felt like a loss but started out well; a ragged, rain-soaked cup-tie win; two convincing losses to Cardiff and Reading. One point out of nine on our account, and down 4-7 on aggregate. Okay…that’s four games already in all competitions, but I had to throw Colchester out there to make me feel better. But Norwich is just the fourth game in the league campaign, and that’s all that counts. So we’re back to 2-6 on aggregate.

Enter Norwich. And if Villa lose, is Steve Bruce toast? Would be a shame if he is, because I like toasting things, and really don’t want to see Bruce every time I do.

Since Reading compounded Villa’s misery following the Cardiff thumping, supporters have been upset. Can’t blame them. Don’t think anyone can be happy with much of anything they saw in the last two matches.

Of course, it’s just two matches. Two away matches. We’re not very good at those.

But for better or worse, a quick return to the top-flight has been the mandate set by Dr. Tony Xia, so it’s the standard most all of us have shaped our expectations around.

And that quick return is already seemingly in jeopardy, even though we’ve brought in players for a short-term goal, and spent a lot on them. If this squad isn’t good enough—or the mix just isn’t right—to get promoted, they certainly wouldn’t hack it in the PL. But, due to transfer fees and contracts, this is a side we’ll be stuck with if we stay in the second tier.

Cue the panic button. And I’ve admittedly been alarmed by what I’ve seen so far, if not quite panicked.

So, yes, Steve Bruce is under pressure and deservedly so. Nothing’s really gotten any better on the pitch. The last two matches looked like giant steps backward. Now we’re not even tough to score on, yet our strike rate remains paltry. Paging Mr. Terry. Mr. Terry to the white telephone, please. Fair or not, you’re the captain. Get on these guys about just winning. And get the back line to move up some. You can do it, right?

News on Friday suggests Mile Jedinak might be in the frame for the Canaries. How fit he is is anyone’s guess. Would his return help? Given that the numbers say we do better when he’s on the pitch, then yes, one thinks his return wouldn’t hurt.

Which of course gets us to who else is in midfield. First, are we playing five or four? Does Whelan make way, or sit back with Mile? Is either Lansbury or Hourihane in and are they deep or further upfield? Adomah and Green? Bjarnason?

Or will we see Gabby wide left supporting Rushian Hepburn-Murphy up top? Does my head in, because I’ve yet to see anything clear cut. With Hogan out, I’m going to guess Bruce puts Gabby up top, but whether it’s 4-4-2, 4-5-1, 4-4-1-1…I don’t know. And I wonder if Bruce does either. Well, I’m sure he’s got some idea because he would always have been thinking about a midfield with Jedinak penciled in from the start.

Since there’s no pressure on me, I’d probably throw caution to the wind and play RHM up top, with Green wide left and Adomah wide right. I’d put Hourihane in the 10 spot with Whelan and Jedinak behind. I’d play Bree. Chester, Terry, and Taylor sort of pick themselves.

Even though I have doubts about his speed and range, I’ve got Whelan in if Jedinak’s in there as well. Together, they might stop some of the rot. And Hourihane would have to have a great game. He showed energy at the end against Reading, a willingness to get in the box, and was rewarded with a goal.  The two behind him are going to need some box-to-box in front of him. If Whelan can’t do a job with Jedi in there, then he needs to sit the bench and become a tactical sub.

But if things aren’t working further up, then Lansbury can come on. If RHM can’t score, Gabby can come on and do the same. Likewise, Bjarnason for Adomah/Green.

And I’ve forgotten about Onomah. Well, that’s too much trouble to figure out now. Put him in for Hourihane. Or actually, let’s take out Whelan. Onomah has the legs, Hourihane can move. Let them swap back and forth. If Jedi’s healthy enough, that is. If he isn’t, well it’s Whelan. He doesn’t lack heart. He may just be past it. Prove me wrong, Glenn.

So now that I’ve sorted that out, Steve can just have a full English, read the paper, put on a track suit and get red in the face when my team doesn’t work any better than his. God, I love this job. Football’s a walk in the park.

Prediction? Not on your life. This is why I don’t gamble. But if pressed, I’ll say 1-1, and the jury stays out on Bruce. If the team are responsive to the comments in Bruce’s presser, let’s go 5-1 Villa.

Over to you.

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John Clark
John is co-owner of AVL, and has followed the Villa since the '70s. A journalist by trade, he is, by most accounts, a very nice person. You can follow me on Twitter @JClarkKohoutek. It's an astonishing experience. Or a complete waste of time.

Comments 106

  1. Ian

    Testosterone is over hyped. My neighbours dog has no nuts and Is vicious.
    Eat oysters and run away with the league.

    Start brightly then fade at the 5 minute mark. 3-2 norwich

  3. John Lerwill

    John,

    Lovely post. I get the impression the Duke of Wellington would have loved you as a deputy commander – calmness and indefatigability when all around is falling apart. 🙂

    I love the sound of Hourihane and Onamah working in tandem. But if Whelan is left out then I’d fear for the middle of the park as I don’t see Jedi being able to come in and instantly be able to re-assert his presence. Assuming he’s available. I see Elmo is also being talked of as being possibly available.

    So the walking wounded are being dragged back into service?

    But, about Hourihane, I was alarmed at his pre-season performances but against Reading he did seem to spark back into life.

  4. Trinity

    Apologies for talking nuts.
    Yes, great post JC. It will be interesting to see who runs out later and to see if they can play well to get a win.

  5. Mark King

    Morning JC- Well Bruce has sent out a war cry to the players, “save my reputation Please” or something similar, very stirring stuff. I am beginning to wonder if each training session starts with Bruce sitting them down for a minute and saying “I have got an idea” maybe it should be “anyone got any ideas”?

    Quite frankly how a manager can spend all pre-season and the transfer window working on 442 4411 and be no further forward by the seasons start I’ll never know. ” perhaps they are just not ready to play 442 says Steve” one of the most common formations for the last 40 years and with a rebuild toward to that end they can’t grasp it? never mind we can always use the first 10 matches to find something else lads, what do you like?

    Further to that we are led to believe we were building around Villa’s flakiest player Jack Grealish, why for heavens sake would we need an alternative to him? he’s like a rock. What could possibly go wrong basing your entire strategy around single players performing not a team? (Kodjia jedinak wheelan JT) its only 46 games + cups + internationals.

    Incredibly just like the jan window and the loss of Kodjia and Ayew to the ACN Bruce has failed to come up with an answer to scoring without Kodjia. Equally he has failed to resolve the conundrum of Villa only winning once in the championship without jedinak (not under him mind)

    With theories about Aston Villa F.C. being under some malaise that can only be lifted by sitting tight and doing exactly the same as we did for the last few seasons, buy a new team, Don’t attack to much, I wonder why the aforementioned Kodjia and Jedinak are immune to it? maybe we should draw their blood and make a vaccine?

    Adomah to can be put in that category, not bought by Bruce for one but also they are strong minded individuals that take not a jot of notice of him maybe? Jedinak particularly is unlikely to be receiving direction from Stevie Wonder, You could put several others in a similar category (does what it says on the tin) that just play like Chester with his finger in the dyke, the roadrunner Hutton. Elmo and Taylor two of Bruces hits just get on with it and suspect thats what Bruce is after, He doesn’t want to Coach nor can he effectively on the year he’s been here do that imo.

    Strangely we have a whole academy of untainted talent raring to have a go, Green will slowly succumb I am sure as already he has been blamed publicly for not winning us games, I don’t think Stevie Me understands the damage his sidestepping does, bollock in private, better still drill them until they don’t have to think to much or play players like O’hare who can think and act, imagine that.

    Oh well we are at home so it has to be a win for SB especially after he has declared War on his detractors, better hope your players care about your Ego Steve or you have drilled them maybe?
    Norwich are quite tasty up top like Cardiff so I am hoping for a win, thinking we could scrape a draw (please don’t make it an embarrassing one) or just as easily get a hiding.

  7. John Lerwill

    Mark [previous thread]: “your telling me a player walks into VP and gets £25k a week and he can’t be bothered?”

    Well, you wish to twist around my statements to suggest that?

    Of course he’s bothered; he wants his £25k per week. And that’s part of the point I was making.

    But underlying it all is the sense I have that many of today’s pro footballers have lost that pure love of the game and pride in themselves that they might have had then they were very young.

    I am concerned, for example, that we have signed a former England captain (albeit now getting on, of course) who at quite a lower level to what he’s used to cannot rise above it and show the way. He doesn’t pass scrutiny compared to Laursen in my opinion. And neither against Frank Barson. And Paul McGrath.

    Allied to which it would appear that our old skipper Chester has lost his way a tad since Terry’s arrival.

    Apart from the central defence I look at midfield and see players there that could show more individual determination to take responsibility, but don’t. Or perhaps the modern game doesn’t allow them to. Lansbury for example. Hourihane I thought the same, but I was relieved to see what might have been a better game from him in the little I saw of the Reading match.

    So it might appear that my attack was against all players in the team, but in fact I see Terry as being the main issue, particularly if he’s affecting Chester’s play. Repeating what I said before, a Chester/Baker combination would be more effective to me (assuming Baker being injury-free) – but that’s not on now.

    And, as stated, the weakness in attitude (forcefulness/pride) of the of midfield is of concern to me.

    The attack is the next issue, but that’s more to do with numbers available and square plugs for round holes i.m.o.

    Conversely, the matter of Hutton. A player who shows a lot of effort, but has been seriously involved in several of the goals against us. Effort yes, but lacks quality.

    But the whole matter really hinges on the spine of the team … particularly the central defence and central midfield.

  8. Mark King

    JL- I don’t wish to twist anything mate 🙂 These players showed enough to get to Villa, I don’t think motivation is the problem more direction. Villa is not the destination for them the prem is, turning up and finding its not what you thought it would be (togetherness, nor Guidance) As I said if you are used to a certain level of coaching and then walk into something that is basic what would your reaction be? liken it to you walking into a seminar on the history of Villa or spirituality where you Know way more than the speaker. Villa are initiating a plan that may seem common sense to many of the players seen from the perspective of how other clubs are run.

    The midfield is being shackled for fear of being overrun IMO and lets face it for all Chesters positive Play the defence cannot cope without Jedinak, frequently he is winning headers that should be the CB’s job.

  9. Mark King

    The JT issue may be a bit of he’s Brucies favourite and he has not solved much on recent performances. From JT’s perspective he may have over estimated his own abilities at this stage of his career? I don’t think he understood how fast and frantic the champs is nor how poor the quality of player is compared to those previously shielding Chelsea’s defence, and no he’s no Mcgrath etc, at this moment he is to busy trying to swim to worry about what others are doing.

  10. John Lerwill

    Mark: “I don’t think motivation is the problem more direction.”

    I think we understand that’s your point, mate. Obviously I think otherwise and I certainly don’t think the situation in total is as you describe. But you/PP and others will doubtless still not agree with me.

    I can’t for the life of me think why Bruce would not be giving proper direction, particularly when it is clear that the Villa top brass see something in Bruce that you obviously can’t see. That just doesn’t make sense to my mind.

    But, clearly, what I see doesn’t make sense to you. I am not100% for Bruce, but I do try to understand where he stands in relation to what’s at VP and the total scenario. I just can’t find much that’s convincing in your premise.

    We just have to agree to differ.

  11. Mark King

    JL- no we don’t have to agree at all 😉 more fun to discuss.

    As for why they see something in Bruce, well four promotions and the fact Wyness, Round have nailed their reps to him? what does his failure say about them and their involvement. Dr Xia was reticent about Bruce but said he was surprised how open to ideas he was??

    Add to that we probably need some stability (with the right Manager) in a situation where we are sailing close to FFP another few million lost on getting a new manager and sackings is not quite as simple as previously.

    Recently Dr Xia commented on how Silva debriefed his team with data after the match on twitter, to me that is pointing out that we are not up with the standards of modern football, being an IT orientated Chap I am sure he is not impressed privately.

    I suspect like yourself and others they are just hoping he turns it around.

  12. Mark King

    As for his derections, its seem quite plain that for his entire tenure something is amiss, when he came in he had the young coach ex midfielder Clement doing the coaching and we scraped some results, enough to hail Bruce as the messiah, in came a defensive coach and? now I am not sure if Bruce asked for his assistant or was given him but either way?

  13. John Lerwill

    Mark: “I suspect like yourself and others they are just hoping he turns it around.”

    You think that’s how business people think? Dr. Tonics is not simply a “hoping” guy by any means.

    And neither do I for that matter. I believe the situation can be turned around in the next week of two. If it doesn’t then Bruce doesn’t have long, as I’ve said before.

  16. RichardS

    Another great article form John.

    If we lose today Bruce goes. He has taken us backwards and does not have a clue what he is doing The football under his leadership has been dross. The fans deserve better.

    This team cannot win without Kodja. So it is going to be difficult. NORWICH had a good win in the week and they can see we are low on confidence. Teams love coming to Villa Park – it’s a magnificent stadium. A draw is the best we can hope for, we cannot finish.

    I hate to say it – but if we lost today and Bruce goes I would be happy. With a new manager we could still make the play offs.

  23. John Clark

    Afternoon, all. Hope everyone’s getting in a lovely Saturday while they still can.

    So, Brucie did wake up, read these words of wisdom, and listen a little. My apologies in advance.

    Johnstone
    Hutton, Chester, Terry, Taylor (come on, Steve, you missed the bit about Bree, but I’m sure it was early and you might not have been sleeping well anyway)

    Elmohamady, Whelan, Hourihane (fair enough, Elmo…that was a nasty cut, and no sense rushing Jedi)

    Onomah, Davis, Green (Davis has seen more of the first team than RHM, so that makes sense.)

  24. John Clark

    JL and Mark.

    Thank you for disagreeing so disagreeably and informatively. Mark, I’d have you straight in the team, just the sort of terrier we need in the middle. John, you too. Love to see the looks you’d exchange when we concede.

    “Further to that we are led to believe we were building around Villa’s flakiest player Jack Grealish, why for heavens sake would we need an alternative to him? he’s like a rock. What could possibly go wrong basing your entire strategy around single players performing not a team?”

    Good rant, that, Mark!

  37. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    More-or-less the same players as last time who mostly didn’t turn up! 😉

    BTW, thanks for the link, but it’s now dropped out. Are you still getting it?

  42. John Clark

    Villalore,

    Yep, Green, Davis and Hourihane…very good half for them.

    Chuffed for Green. Beautifully taken, and the all-important second. Really could’ve had five that half. Davis with the assist for Hourihane, flying into the box.

    Now, which Villa shows up in the second?

  44. Mark King

    No JL I’m not, I think Bruce has lost his rag and told them to go for it how else can you explain the difference? no hesitancy and no fear and I agree JT still looks dodgy

  45. Ian

    Well, that’s better. Young guns playing with abandon. About time they started to come up to first team.
    I hope Bruce doesn’t lose the plot now and revert back. He’s been handed a wonderful opportunity.

  46. Mark King

    Imagine if Bruce had lost his Rag in Jan and let the players of the leash instead of trying to turn attacking players into defensive minded ones? beggars belief.

  47. Mark King

    Ian didn’t you just know that the lucky git would shuffle his pack until he got lucky? If only I could believe he understands why but I just don’t otherwise he could of came to the same conclusion last season.

  49. Mark King

    to sign up for avtv in the uk

    Check out “Free Proxy to Unblock any sites | Touch VPN”: https://chrome.google.com/w…

    once youve downloaded it, you should see an icon in the top right of chrome, click that and hit the connect button, you should have a flag in the bottom right of your screen to show you are now “in another country”

    I didnt see the link so not sure what that was, but i have gone to the villa website and paid the £110 season ticket to watch all the non sky games

  50. Ian

    I did say a couple of days ago to let them have a go at it. Too many talented players not to win but they did. They know how to play. All Bruce really needs is to give them turns starting a game.
    Attacking football is your best defence.

  58. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    I’m sorry, I don’t that’s true at all. You could say the the same thing about any manager … like that time GT was about to resign from Villa and then chose a team that won 6-2 (vs Everton).

  62. John Lerwill

    You’ll notice that Villa are no longer playing such a big possession game (as earlier matches, ca 50-60%) … they’re now playing the Warnock game! 😀 37% [possession so far…

  64. Mark King

    JL- so you think this team is the culmination of Bruces experience and Know how? find that amazing, he has numerous strikers out and has had to play Davis and go for it after seeing hourianes quite good if attacking and involved not stood outside our box, I don’t think you will ever see it as I do mate, to nice a bloke 😉

  67. Paul Whiting

    Serious Well Done to Hourihane…but this win can’t hide the fact that the vile Bruce and his staff must go.

    The next half-competent team will still thump us

  68. Paul Whiting

    How can Hutton start… does Bree have one leg? If I was a reserve to Hutton I’d pack my bags.

    Bruce team selection is baffling and random from game to game.

  69. Mark King

    PW- yes mate, please make this the turning point and a revelation to him, don’t think it will but we are so much better than we are allowed to be.

  71. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    All I was that Bruce is as lucky as many other managers … including the GT example.

    But Bruce changed things today. Only one player change, but the heart was in it today. Maybe that Davis did play so well had a lot to do with it … it spreads confidence.

    But Terry? Oh, dear …

  73. John Clark

    Well, Bruce may have stumbled onto it, may have been forced into it by injuries, or he may have just figured why not have a go?

    At any rate, that was much better. You really can’t make an argument for Gabby coming back in. Hourihane obviously had a blinder, but that’s what he can bring, and especially with Green and Davis causing all sorts of headaches. So refreshing to see shots coming quickly from outside.

    Obviously Hutton was a liability. I hope Bruce doesn’t say he took him off because of the yellow. Norwich stopped having joy down their left once Hutton left. Terry really did switch off on the Canaries’ second.

    I’ll take four goals any day.

  75. Ian

    Haven’t said this in a while—yippee

    Villa won in spite of Bruce. There is a winning team amongst that bunch. Don’t muck it up

  76. Mark King

    JL- on the possession stat I believe it was about 45% at half time which is average for most games, Norwich penned us in and the possession naturally went down, 37% is not that bad when we have had stats in the 20’s recently, when we passed we actually had lots of bodies moving forward a thing of beauty we have not seen before, I even counted 4 players in their box at one time and it wasn’t a corner!!!!! this was as far away from the typical stuff Bruce has offered up in his time here as it can get, why this is so is certainly not some pre-planned occurrence he’s worked on since his arrival IMO.

  79. Mark King

    JC- “Well, Bruce may have stumbled onto it, may have been forced into it by injuries, or he may have just figured why not have a go?” all of the above I think.

  81. B6toBrasil

    Phew,
    Positives…….
    Villa players shooting at the goal,memo to club,this is how games are won.
    KD,what a handful,strong,intelligent,a very good 1st touch and awareness of what is happening around him.Grant Holt he ain’t.
    Hat trick man superb CH.
    High pressing,winning the ball back in opponent’s half.
    Controlled agression,closing down as a unit.

    Negatives….well I won’t list any although,there are a few,but just for once,nice to get a win,I will leave the negatives for others to list.
    ,a

  84. John Lerwill

    JC: “At any rate, that was much better. You really can’t make an argument for Gabby coming back in. “

    With one goal and one assist to his credit and looking more lively (without, I admit, football panache) I’m afraid you can’t really say that i.m.o.

    While Davis is looking good, and with Koddjia to come back, I do admit the chances for Gabby are low now … and if that’s what’s best for the club, so be it. But let’s not write him off so hastily, Villa might need him yet! 😉

    Hogan, I’m sorry to say, looks less able than Davis in Bruce’s kind of play.

  86. Mark King

    Hogan hasn’t been paired with Davis yet JL, Greens game went up by 200% because he had someone on his wavelength, hasn’t had that since the game in Germany when Hogan got two.

  87. John Lerwill


    I’ll say it again …

    GT was in a similar position to Bruce early in the 1989-90 season and then it all turned round and we finished Div 1 runner-up.

    Hourihane is *now* looking like today’s answer to Platt – at long last!

  89. Mark King

    weird that when you get your attacking players near the box they can Attack, rather than rely on solo efforts, playing counter attack where one player is the threat (be that Hogan or Gabby)never works unless that player is a Kodjia type.

    Anyway thats the Jedinak Hoodoo broken 🙂

  90. John Lerwill

    Mark: “I even counted 4 players in their box at one time and it wasn’t a corner!!!!!”

    Yep – they decided to open their ears and listen to what Brucie had to say by the looks of it! 😉

  91. Mark King

    JL- well it looks like you have added long distance or clairvoyant lip reading to your many talents John 😉

    The thought that attacking players have to be encouraged to do so well thats a revelation 🙂

  92. Mark King

    JL- Disagree John, Hogan would thrive, he has ploughed a lone furrow for three matches pretty much today we attacked in numbers which would give him more space to exploit, and the added threat from midfield will make defences even more wary, might even make 442 work eh? 😉

  93. r0bb0

    Delighted for a win and 4 goals . . . . and yet for the first time this season I am really unhappy with Steve Bruce.
    Yes he did ‘stumble’ on today’s team and I don’t believe that when other players are available he will stick with Green and Davis.
    He said this week that he was being forced into playing the youngsters. . . . well he shouldn’t have been . . . . they deserved a go on merit.
    I was (and still am) unhappy that we sold Baker. Can you honestly say that we are more solid at the back without him?
    Another young player . . . a player with youth on his side, disregarded and discarded in favour of players in their mid thirties.
    Sorry guys. . . . wish I could just enjoy the win, the hat trick and four goals but strangely, it’s just magnified my frustration!

  94. IanG

    Great result!
    Look forward to the highlights as all I could get off avfc was the chat commentary – no sound for the 3rd match running, they gave me £3 aback for the one week, an excuse for the next & blamed my settings (after 3 years), fortunately I couldn’t get a connection anywhere for the Cardif game.
    I’ve been relying on you lot for the facts. (Your’s confused).
    I don’t know how the international vid is, but the audio is ropey.
    Mark – they also say that you have to have a non U.K. Card as well for the international vid (possibly you could get away with a non avfc registered one with a vpn).
    Ian – about time one of your mob over the water put a working stream up, as I hear you’ve gone past pedal power.
    JL – when was the last time a midfielder scored a hat trick?

  97. IanG

    Ian – unfortunately I do most of the time
    I get a lot of entertainment from watching Trump’s shenanigans though, even though it scares the bejasus out of everyone.
    The only consolation is that the filthy rich hidden deviants are getting the light shone on them & what they’ve been up to in the process.
    Interesting times we live in.
    I shudder to think what a happy Bruce press appearance was like, he probably took all the credit!
    Time for a beer I think

  98. IanG

    Villalore
    Yeah it is isn’t it.
    I’m going to swap it for a MacBook I think.
    With avfc if it’s not one thing it’s another
    The efl are getting as greedy as the EPL

  99. Archie

    So pleased with todays result, is this the watershed?
    Another 29 wins like that and we’re promoted.
    r0bb0, Enjoyed reading your post, maybe he’s (SB)looking for the right combination and as you say stumbled upon it.
    What I will say re; Nathan Baker a reported £4m ….good business
    TJC
    Archie

  100. IanG

    Archer – he’s no Cahill that’s for sure, but we are short of left side defenders.
    I think they saw the money & bit their hand off

  103. Trinity

    Good to see no knee jerk reactions to a win against a crappy team. Happy for Hourihan, Davis and Greene.
    SB gets a reprieve, Couldn’t watch or listen to game, my AVTV subsription doesn’t seem to provide live audio anymore unless I pay for it again, so I won’t be signing up again.

  104. John Clark

    JL,

    Not saying Gabby should be bomb-squaded, but I can’t see him ahead of Hogan, and I can’t see why Bruce shouldn’t persist for a while with a side that rewarded him and showed plenty of promise. Green and Davis both have more skill on the ball, have an understanding, and are plenty strong and fast. In two games, Hourihane’s put away more than Gabby has done the last three seasons combined.

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